Mary Tamm (born 22 March 1950 in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire) is an English actress, perhaps best known for being the first actress to play the character of Romana in the science fiction television series Doctor Who, opposite Tom Baker as the Doctor, from the 1978 - 1979 season known collectively as The Key to Time. She is a graduate and an associate member of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. If you hold the copyright to an image (e. ... If you hold the copyright to an image (e. ... is the 81st day of the year (82nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Dewsbury is a town in the county of West Yorkshire, England, to the west of Wakefield, in the borough of Kirklees. ... Coat of Arms of South Yorkshire West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, that has a population of 2. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... Actors in period costume sharing a joke whilst waiting between takes during location filming. ... For other uses, see Romana (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Doctor Who (disambiguation). ... For other persons named Tom Baker, see Tom Baker (disambiguation). ... The Key to Time is the umbrella title for a story arc that links all six serials of Season 16 of Doctor Who. ... RADAs theatre in London The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in Bloomsbury, London, is generally regarded as the most prestigious drama school in the world. ...

She began her acting career on the stage with the Birmingham Repertory Company in 1971, moving to London in 1972 and appearing in the musical Mother Earth. Before her association with Doctor Who, Tamm acted in several motion pictures, most notably The Odessa File (1974) and The Likely Lads (1976). Birmingham (pron. ... The Odessa File is a 1974 film adaptation of the thriller novel by Frederick Forsyth, about a struggle between a young German reporter and the ODESSA, an organization for ex-Nazis. ... The Likely Lads was a hit British sitcom created and written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais. ...

Tamm was not initially interested in playing a companion to the Doctor as she believed that the role was merely that of the "damsel in distress". However, she changed her mind when assured by the producers that Romana would be different. While Romana was supposed to be a Time Lady, a member of the Doctor's own people and therefore as capable as the Doctor. She left the programme after only one season as Tamm became visibly pregnant. The role of Romana was assumed by Lalla Ward. A poster for The Perils of Pauline (1914). ... This article is about the Time Lords from Doctor Who. ... Lalla Ward (born Sarah Ward, June 28, 1951) is an English actress and illustrator best known for playing the part of Romana in the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who. ...

Since then, Tamm has acted in both film and television, playing the characters of Penny Crosbie in the soap opera Brookside from 1993 to 1995, Yvonne Edwards in the BBC drama Paradise Heights (2002), as well as guest roles in many other television programmes. Tamm returned to the role of Romana in the second series of Gallifrey audio plays produced by Big Finish Productions. Her first appearance in these was in Gallifrey: Lies (2005). The first TIME cover devoted to soap operas: Dated January 12, 1976, Bill Hayes and Susan Seaforth Hayes of Days of our Lives are featured with the headline Soap Operas: Sex and suffering in the afternoon. A soap opera is an ongoing, episodic work of fiction, usually broadcast on television... For other uses, see Brookside (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ... The Eustace Bros. ... Gallifrey is a fictional planet in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... Big Finish Productions is a British company that produces audio plays released straight to compact disc, based on British cult science fiction properties. ...

She married Marcus Ringrose in 1978. They have one daughter and a grandson.

External links

• Mary Tamm at the Internet Movie Database
• marytamm.com
• Real Audio interview at BBC Wiltshire